Electric switch



E. H. JACOBS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29. 19:5,

1,331,067. Patented Feb. 17,1920 ZSHEETS-SHEETI.

Inventor: Ernest |-l Jacobs,

H is Attorney E. H. JACOBS. ELECTHIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29! L38L067a Patented Feb. 1?, 1920.

2 SHEETS -SHEET 2.

, Inventor 1 Ernest HJacolos,

H is ALL orn e 1 ERNEST H. JACOBS, 0F SGHENECTAJDY, NEW :YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC OQMJPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW- YORK.

learner,

T0 cll'whom it may concern:

Be it-known that l, ERNus'r a citizen of the United States, residing in Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New" York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to the actuating mechanism for such switches.

. The OlDJGCt of myin'vention 18 to generally improve electric switches and more particularly to provide for electric switches a novel' and improved actuating mechanism which is very rugged, compact, having quick breaking characteristics, which has a longer stroke andoccupies a smaller space than similar mechanismsheretofore known and which is in many other particulars, to be pointed out more in detail hereinafter, an improvement on previous actuating mechanism of this general character.

The novel'features which 'I- believe to be characteristic of my invention will be definitely indicated in the claims appended hereto; the features of construction and mode of operation will be understood by ref erence to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show the preferred embodiments of my invention and in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form ofswitchv embodying the novel features of my invention, Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my improved actuating mechanism and Figs. .3, 4, and 5 are more detailed views, partly in section, of the actuating mecl1anism;.Fig. 3 showing the mechanism in the position it assumes 'when the switch is closed, Fig. 4

in the position it assumes when the switch is automatically tripped open and kF-ig.

the position it assumes when the mechanism is reset-and ready to,clos e the switch.

In Fig. 1 I have-shown, my invention em bodied in a three: phase, triple pole, oil switch in which the three poles l, 2, and 3 of the switch are supported or mounted on a, suitable pipe framework 4. The fixed contacts 5 for each pole ofthe switch are connected to thelr respective switch terml-- nals through insulatorbushings 6 of well known type. The cocperating movable con tacts 5 for each pole 'of the switch are H. JACOBS,

a very compact switch.

, Specification of Letters ZPatent. Pwtgmtrgfl Fglb, 117, Application filed July 29, 1915. SeriallNo. 42,643. I I

tacts to close and open the circuit, by a novel mechanism to be described. The movable contacts '5 for each pole are moved by an insulating rod 7 which is "pivotally connected at one end to an actuating lever 8, and moved in a straight line; by a parallel mo tion or link mechanism comprising the two sets of paralleling links9 and lO-and the guide links 11. The guide links are pivoted or fulcrumed to the supporting structure of the switch at one end and to the rear'paralleling links 10 at the other end.

Instead of moving the actuating levers. 8 l

by actuating the parallel motion mechanisms about the pivot of their paralleling links 10 as an axis as is the usual practice, I provide means for moving the. actuating levers and the parallel motion mechanism as a-- unit about an axis which is external to the mechanism. This means for moving the parallel motion mechanism as a unit, comprises a mechanism which acts to magnify or multiply a comparatively short movement of the operating lever and cause the parallel motion mechanism to move bodily as a unit and also to act as aparallel motion device. As a result of this novel construction, a short movement of the switch operating lever causes a greatly multiplied path of mo ement for the contact carrying end of the short actuating levers 8, and thereby a very long stroke mechanism is provided which gives a correspondingly long break for the switch, a quicker extinguishment of the arc, anda sw'itch'of greater rupturing capacity. By providing a mechanism which moves the contact carrying end of the actuating levers over a multiplied path of movement, I am I able to make the actuating levers S'much shorter than has been heretofore possible and therefore I can mount the actuating mechanism. for the three poles-bf the switch within a greatly reduced spaceithus making For moving the parallel motion mecha nism corresponding to each pole of the; switch as a unit, I provide, as best shown in Figsf3, land 5, an actuator link or member 12 which is preferably a 'four cornered or substantially diamond-shaped member. These actuators 12 are movably mounted or fulcrumed at one .end or one corner to move the shafts. Pivotally mounted on each a'ctu-' ator link 12 at the end or corner opposite its fulcrum are its respective paralleling links 9 and pivotally mounted on each actuator link at a corner or a point intermediate its ends are its respective paralleling links 10. Theactuators, carrying the paralleling links, therefore, provide a means for moving the parallel motion mechanisms as a unit,

upon the movement of the actuators about their fulcrums as pivots. The sleeves 14 also carry mounted thereon, arms 15 movable therewith and with the actuator links 12.

The arms 15 for each pole of the switch-are interconnected by rods 16,-best shown in Fig.

1, so that themovement of one actuator 12- or one arm 15 causesthe simultaneousmovementof all the parallel motion mechanisms to open or close the switch. I

For moving the actuator 12 corresponding to the pole 3 of the switch and, therefore, for controlling the'whole switch actuating mechanism, I provide an operating mecha.

are carried at one end by a sleeve 21 on the operating shaft 22, and are connected at their other ends to the toggle link 19. Lugs or buffers 23 on the links 20 cooperate with corresponding lugs or buffers 21 on the free ends of operating levers 17, for limiting the movement of the toggle in one direction. The operating mechanism for the actuator 12 therefore comprises essentially a three link toggle consisting of the operating toggle 1920 and levers 17.

Carried on a shaft 25 connecting the toggle links 19 and 20, are arms 26 which, with the pivotally connected latching mem-' ber 27 form the latching or locking mechanism for the switch. The arms 26 with the latching member 27 move during the operation of the switch between the two operating levers 17 along the plate 18 and are so arranged that when the arms 26 extend a sufficient distance between thelevers -17 the latch 27 falls by gravity about its connection to the arms 26as a pivot and through its recessed or notched. portion 28, engages the plate 18 and thus locks the operating toggle to theoperating levers and to the.

actuator 12. To limit the movement of the latch 27 and hold it in alinement with arms 26.when the mechanism is in releasing or unlockedposition, a lug is provided on the latch which cooperates with a pin 29 bevtween the arms 26. For aiding the latching mechanism and maintainin' it in latching :position' and for withstanding the opening thrust of theniechanisms, the arms 26 are 1 provided with aholding or restraining element consisting of a bar 30 connecting the two arms-26 at such a point that as the latch falls into latching position, the bar 30 falls in behind a pin 31 provided-between the ends of the operating levers 17 for this purpose. toggle links 20 and cooperates with lugs or projections 32 on the supporting structure The shaft 25 extends beyond the of the switch, as best shown in Fig. 2 to limit the movement of the operating toggle 19.20 to switch closing position and hold it in a slightly.overset position.

' The tripping mechanism which cooperates with the latching mechanism to move the switch to open position consists of a tripping member. 33 in substa nt ially'tlie form of a bell crank which is pivotally' mounted on a support attached to the lower end of the supporting structure for the switch mechanism and in operative relation with the latch 27. The tripping member 33 has a weighted arm 34: positioned to normally hold the member 33 out of tripping engagement with the latch 27 and another arm or tripping portion 35 which is slotted andpositioned to engage the latch 27 and move the latching mechanism to releasing position.

The trippin member 33 is provided with means for moving it into tripping position either in response to the opening movement of the switch by hand or automatically in response to predetermined electrical conditions.

For moving the tripping member 33 into tripping engagement with the latch 27 in response to the opening movement of the switch'by hand, I provide a tripping arm 36 which is pivotally supported at one'end between the'toggle links 20 at a point intermediate'the ir ends. 'Tlie other end of the arm 36 is free and terminates in a notched 'finger which extends into the slotted portion of tripping member 33 and rests by gravity upon a'pin 37. When the operating toggle 1 92O is moved from switch closing position, as shown in-Fig. .3 toward' switch opening position,theytripping arm 36 is moved with the toggle and by means of the notched end of the arm engaging the pin 37, the tripping member 33 is rocked aboutits pivot and the tripping portion 35 moved into engagement with the latch 27 to release the same and allow the switch to open in a manner to be described. Continued movement of the operating toggle to the position shown in Fig. 5, causes the notched end of arm 36 to ride over the pin 37 and extend through the slotted portion of member 33.

For moving the tripping member 33 into trippingposition automatically in response to the occurrence of'p'redetei'mined current conditions, such as, an overload above apre determined aiii'ount,l provide suitable relays 38,"one corresponding toleach phase of;

the circuit to 'bepi'otected. These relays are *cai riecb'bythe siippoitforjthe tripping member 33'ja'nd"have'located above their pluii'gers suitable tripping levers '39 which are arranged to engage the \veighted arm 34 and move tlie"t' ripp1 1'ig member 33 into tripping position." I may" provide relays which are instantaneous in response to overload or relays having'a definite or inverse time limit depend ng on'the character of the installationfFor' limiting the movement of the tripping member'to tripping positionI provide a'lu'g on the tripping. member which engagesa boss 40 on the top of the relay supportL-fWhen the tripping member 33 is moved into tripping position,"the latch 27 is moved until its notched portion 28 isxfree from the plate 18 whereupon the bar rides over its pin'31 and the levers 17 are released 'from the operating toggle 1920.

- The levers 17 with actuator 12 carrying the parallel motion mechanism thereby collapses quickly and" moves into switch opening position, independent of the operating handle. The toggle link'19 is carried by the levers 17 into switch opening position about the shaft 25 as an axis but the toggle links 20 connected directly to ,the arm ll'to which is removably. attached the operating handle, do not move. Through the interconnecting rods 16 all the' actuators with their respec tive parallel motion mechanisms are moved The operation of my improved actuating mechanism may be explained as follows: When the switch is closed, the mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. '3. The latching mechanism including the latch 27 is in latching position'an'd the operating levers 17 are heldrigidly connected to the operating toggle 1920 which is in slightly overset position in engagement with the lugs 32, t while the toggle consisting of levers 17 and' 19 is slightly underset. In Fig. at is shown the actuatingmechanism inthe "position it assumes when automatically tripped in response to the relays 38. The rigid connection between the operating levers 17 and the operating toggle 1$)2 O is broken and the actuator link 12 allowed to "move downward about its fulcrum as a pivot, ca-ri'ying the parallel motion mechanism with it as a unit; The contact carrying end of actuating lever 8 is thereby moved over along path of movement thus causing a long break between the fixed and movable contacts with the result thatthe arc formed as the contacts separate, is attenuated and quickly extinguished and a switch of increased rupturing 17 and to accomplish this, the operating togsimultaneously into switch opening .position.

capacity is produced; The operatingleversf 17 move into switch opening position Wlthout aflccting'the' toggle links 20 so that the mechanism trips free from the handle as has been before described. As the levers 17 move into switch opening position, the'latch 27 moves alongthe plate 18 and is held in rigid alinement with arms 26 by the lugon latch 27 engaging the; pin 29 as'sh'own in Fig. 4:. In a similar manner the actuating mechan sm for the switch trips free from the handle when the switch is opened'by hand. in this instance a's the operating'tog gle 1 92O is moved toward switch opening position, the tripp ng arm carried by f the toggle links 20 moves the tripping member 33 into tripping position.

To close the switch, it is necessary to lock the operating-toggle to the operating levers gle is moved tothe'i'esettin'g position'sho-wn in F g. 5. position, the arms 26 with the latch 27 are As the toggle moves to resetting moved along the plate 18 between the links 17 until the arms extend far enough to en able the. latch to fall into latching position as has been described. 'As the latch moves into latching positi'on,the buffers 23 and 2st come into engagement and limit the ino'vement of the tog le atvthe same time acting to hold the latching ine chanism'in alinement.

In this position of the actuating mechanism,

the tripping portion 35 of the member 33 extends upward between the arms 26 and in back of the bar 30. With the toggle 1920 locked to theoperating levers 17, the movement of the operating toggle into switch .closing position is communicated directly to the actuators 12 at the point of connection of levers 17. It s apparent from Fig. 5 that there is, in closing, really the eii'ect of two toggles in series, the toggle 1920 and the toggle comprising the actuator 12 and operat ng links 17 with the toggle members of each pair at substantially right angles, so

' that, as the sleeve 21 is rotated by the oper to carry all the parallel motion mechanisms pivot. During the about their axes 13 as a initial movement of the actuators 12, the parallel motion mechanisms are moved bodily and finally the action of the guide links 11 exert their'influence and simultaneously withthe bodily movementofthe parallel motion mechanisms, the mechanisms are exto the precise combination shown but intend to cover by the appended claims all changes and modifications which are within the scope of my invention and will be apparen to those skilled in the art. Y i What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an electric switch, the combination with relatively movable cooperating contacts, of a mechanism for moving said con. tacts into and out of engagement in a straight line, and means for moving said mechanism as a unit about an axis external to the mechanism;

2. In an electric switch, the combination,

with relatively movable cooperating contacts. of an actuating lever operativelyrelated to said contacts, a mechanism for causing one end ofthe actuating lGNGI' to move in a straight line, and an actuator member fulcrumed at one end and adapted to move said mechanism as a unit about said fulcrum. I

3; In an electric switch, the combination with relatively movable cooperating-contacts, of an actuating lever associated with said contacts, an actuator member mounted at one end to move about a fixed pivot, a parallel motion mechanism intermediate said actuator member and sald actuating lever and movable as a unit by said actuator member about said pivot, and means for moving said 'actuator member whereby the end of said actuator lever associated with said cont acts moves over a proportionately greater path.

at. In an electric switch; the combination with relatively movable cooperating contacts, of an actuating lever associated with said contacts, a parallel motion mechanism for moving said actuating lever, an actuator member fulcrumed at one end for moving said mechanism as a unit about said fulcrum as an axis, and means for moving 'said actuator member about its fulcrum including an operating member pivotally' connected to said actuator member at a point intermediate the ends thereof.

In an electric switch, the combination with relatively movable cooperating contacts, of an actuating leveroperatively related to said contacts, a mechanism for moving said actuating lever and causing the end thereof associated with said contacts to move in a straight line, means for moving said mechanism as a unit about an external axis, latching mechanism for holding said means in switch closing position, and releasing opens the'arc formed between the contacts is attenuated and quickly extinguished.

7. The combination with the cooperating fixed and movable contacts of an electric switch, of an actuating leveroperatively related to said movable contact, a parallel I motion mechanism including two .paralleling links operatively related to said lever,

means for moving said mechanism as a unit about an extended axis COIIIPI'ISlIlg an actuator member fulcrumed at one end and havlng one of said paralleling l1nksfp1votally connected thereto. at the end opposite the fulcrum and the other of said paralleling links pivotally connected intermediate the ends of said member, an operating mechanism for moving said actuator member about its fulcrum including an operating lever pivot-ally connected to said actuator member at a point intermediate the ends of said member.

8. In an electric switch, the combination with relatively movable cooperating contacts, of an actuating lever operatively related to one o'f-said contacts, a parallel motion mechanism controlling the movement of said lever, means for moving said mechanism about an external axis including an actuator member. fulcrumed' at one end thereof, one link of said mechanism 'pivotally connecting the end of said actuator opposite its fulcrum to a point intermediate the ends of said actuating lever, a second link of .fixed and movable contacts of an electric switch, of an actuating lever operatively related to sald movable contact, a parallel motion mechanism for moving said actuating lever, an actuator member fulcrumed at one end for moving said mechanism as a unit about sald fulcrum, an OPGIM'JIIO mechanism for movmgsald actuating member about its two para'lIeling links operatively related thereto one of said paralleling links being pivotally connected to said actuator member at the end oppositeits fulcrum and the other of said paralleling links bemg p1v- 'otilly connected tosald actuator member intermediate the ends thereof, an opera-ting mechanism for moving said actuator member about ltsfulcrum includingi a member paralleling links pivotally pivotally connected to said actuator member at a point intermediate the ends thereof.

11. In an electric withi an actuating lever, a parallel motion mechanism including two paralleling links operatively related to said lever, means for moving said mechanism as a amt about an axis external thereto including a fourcornered actuator member fulcrumed at one end and havmg one of said paralleling hnks' pivotally connected thereto at the end opposite the fulcrum, and the other of said connected at a corner intermediate its ends, operating -mech anism for moving said actuator member about its fulcrum comprising an operating lever pivotally connected to said actuator Y member at the corner opposite the pivotal connection of said other paralleling link, and an operating toggle connected tosaid operating member at a point intermediate its ends.

12. An electric switch comprising c0- operating fixed and movable contacts, an

actuating lever for moving said movable contact, a mechanism operatively related to said actuating lever to cause said movable requiring correction as follows:

pivot [sEALJ] Corrections in Letters Patent No. 1,331,067.

switch, the combination It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,331,067, 1920, upon the application of Ernest H. acobs, of Schenectady, New York, for an improvement in Electric Switches, errors appear in the read pivots; page 4, line 90, claim 7, for the Word ml; and that the said Letters Patent should be read therein that the same may conform to the record of the cas contact to move in a straight line,a movably mounted actuator member fulcrumed at one end for moving said mechanism as a unit about its fulcrum as an axis, an operating shaft, a collapsible operating mechanism for moving said actuator member comprlsm an operating member pivoted at one end to r said 'acttiator member at a point intermediate the ends of said member, and an operating toggle having one link fulcrumed on said shaft and the other link pivoted to said opcrating member at a pomt intermediate its ends.

13. An electric switch comprisingin combination fixedand movable cooperating contacts, a parallel motion mechanism including vtwo paralleling links for moving said movable contact in a straight line, an actuator member fulcrumed at one end and operatively related to said mechanism for moving said mechanism as a unit about the fulcrum of said member, an operating mechanism for said actuator member including a collapsible three linked toggle )ivotally related to said actuator member mtermediate the ends thereof.

15L. In an electric switch, in the combination. with relatively movable cooperating contacts, of an actuating lever associated with said contacts, means for moving said lever in a straight line, an actuator member fulcrumed at one end and adapted to move said member as a unit about an axis external thereto, an operating mechanism for moving said actuator member l'bOLlfiltS fulcrum into switch closing position comprising two toggles in series, latching means for holding said toggles 1n switch closing position, one

of said toggles being overset and the other toggle underset, and tripping means for re leasing said latching means and allowing said toggles to collapse and open the switch. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of July, 1915.

ERNEST H. JACOBS- Signed and sealed this 23d day of March, A. 1)., 1020.

H. GOULSTON,

' Acting Uomm'issioner of Parents;

granted February 17, I

printed specification Page 3, line 124, for the article and word a i I extended 'read eaten with these, corrections I e in the Patent Office. 

